A lifestyle, food, and travel blog about all things New York and beyond on a budget.

Rendezvous At the Hills on Governors Island

Last Saturday on my quest to stuff as much activity into Summer that my body would allow, I met up with a couple of friends to go Governors Island and enjoy the mental break from the city. I’ve written about a lazy picnic I was invited to last year and with the way my brain is set up, I have to tell everyone I know about anything I’ve experienced that was enjoyable. So pardon me while I rave again.

What Is the Season at Governors Island?

Governors Island happens to be on that list of those things that I think are amazing and one of my friends has never been there (I know right! Perfect excuse to go isn’t it?). So we planned a day out before the season to visit ended. I’ve tried to plan on going earlier this year but it just never worked out in my favor. The season this year is from May 23, 2016, till September 25, 2016. UPDATE: The season has been lengthened since writing this post, the season now starts May 1st- October 1st and late nights have been added until ten. You have more time to spend and enjoy the island.

So we bought ready-made overpriced food from Dean & DeLuca and set out to the ferry station, which is right next to the Staten Island Ferry Station. After taking the train on a weekend with lots of subway lines disrupted by construction, we took the ten-minute ferry ride to Governor’s Island, the ferry only costs $2. It leaves every thirty minutes and the last ferry off the island is at seven ( now has been lengthened until ten on Fridays)

The views of lower Manhattan and New Jersey from the ferry are worth the price of the ride.

On the way I passed by a food event, the Vendy Awards wrapping up. It is the Oscars of food vendors and I was jealous that I hadn’t been able to go ever since learning about it two years ago and one of my blogging buddies Justine was a judge, check her out here.

My First Try At The Hills on Governors Island

I must admit that when I finally got to the other side of the island without renting a bike, I was starting to reconsider my need for pictures and questioning my common sense for missing my yoga classes.
And then I got to the bottom of the biggest hill, it was big and I wanted to take a break but I knew that time was growing short. So I tackled it. It helped that so many cute kids were making the way up in front of me. It truly reminded me of the stairs at R train Whitehall station when the escalators don’t work (New York insider joke). The stairway was made of huge slabs of granite fashioned into a staircase. There was also paved walkway, for strollers, wheelchairs, and people not interested in the climb.

The Hills at Governors Island, NYC

I made it and was rewarded the views, it was a clear day and you could see at least ten miles out. This is the closest that I’ve gotten to a detailed aerial view of the city. And if anyone wants to sponsor that helicopter ride, please email ASAP!

The view to the next hill I had to climb and the Brooklyn waterfrontViews from the Hills at Governors Island, NYCVerrazano Bridge and Staten Island in the distance from the HillsThe Manhattan skyline from the Hills on Governors Island, NYC

And because I am a glutton for punishment I climb down this hill to climb another but for a totally different reason, the tallest slides I’ve ever seen were on the next hill and I could hear the children screaming in the distance. So of course, I had to go in the direction of those screams. Yes, my feet hurt and I only had an hour left to run/walk to the slides and make it back to the dock for the ferry.

The slides on the Hills on Governors Island, NYCWait, maybe this is too steep?!

I did it and it was over way too quickly and they were shutting the slides down as I got there so only one slide ride for the season… There’s always next year.

Do you have a park like this in your area? Have you visited Governors Island before? Please let me know what is special about it and how it made you feel in the comments below. I can’t wait to read them!

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10 thoughts on “Rendezvous At the Hills on Governors Island”

We have an amusement park near us with large water slides.It’s not on an island but it’s a popular hang out for families and it’s been a staple around Lake Erie for years. It’s right at the base of the Peninsula. There’s also a picnic area for families and groups to meet, family reunions, work recreational gatherings, etc. It’s called Waldameer. Both my nieces have summer passes.
Thanks for a fun read!
Amy

I need to move, I’ll sponsor the helicopter ride if you will sponsor me moving! You get to see cool stuff, I get to see maple trees! All kidding aside looks like the $2.00 ferry ride is chump change for those spectacular views. Next year don’t be forgetting about the Vendy Awards either!

I would love to go to the Vendy Awards! Every year it just sneaks up on me before i can make a plan. The island is so beautiful! If you ever visit go there. In New York we are really spoiled for outdoor spaces, but most people don’t get to visit the majority of them or realize how amazing they are. I’m going to visit as many as I can! I love being outside most of the time except for mosquitoes. And maple trees are amazing, I love maple syrup! And you are always traveling, I’m jealous of that!

Luckily I found someone that knows how to really stretch a buck 🙂 and her family has a place on Green Bay. Always wanted to go to New York just to see it, closest I came was going around it on the Tappan Zee bridge when I went to Maine years ago.

Hmm. If you like heat come during the Summer because there are lots of fairs and concerts. Fall and Winter for, apple picking, hiking, decorations and holiday markets and snow. Spring is for everything lol. So it’s just about your interests but do visit the mountains upstate. ? So beautiful!

That’s not even the tallest one! I was scared myself and just about to walk down, when they tod me, “No you can’t walk down, you can only slide down and we’re closing right now!”. So I had to bite the bullet! Over in five seconds.